Feeder.



0. L. OARMAN.

FEEDER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21, 1912.

Patented Aug. 5, 1913;

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

C. L. CARD/IAN.

FEEDER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21, 1912.

1,069,527 Patented Aug". 5, 1913.

2 SHEETSSEEET 2.

CHARLES LEWIS CARMAN, OF RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA.

FEEDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 5,1913.

Application filed June 21, 1912. Serial No. 705,008.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES Lewis CAR- MAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Riverside, in the county of Riverside and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feeders, of which the following is a specification, reference being made to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to grinding machines in general and more oarticularly to an im proved feeder adapted for use in connection with a tube mill or rotary kiln. I

The principal objects of my invention are the provision in a tube mill or the like of an improved feed means by which a uniform feeding operation is attained and flooding of the mill effectually prevented; the pro vision in a feeder of a series of suitable annular feed compartments so arranged thatshould one compartment become obstructed and checked by a foreign substance the remaining compartments have continuous rotation independently of the one arrested; and the provision in a feeder of novel means by which the flow of material is readily controlled without necessitating stoppage of the apparatus.

These and such other objects as may hereinafter appear or are incidental to my in mention I attain by means of a construction illustrated in preferred form in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation in section of a tube mill showing my improved feeder applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a vertical central section,

through the feeder.

Figure 3 is an end elevation of Figure Figure 4: is a plan View of the compart ments.

Figure 5 is a perspective of one 3036 the rings.

Feeders of the class described are commonly applied to pulverizing machines and particularly to tube mills and rotary kilns. One of the disadvantages of some of the types of feed now in use is the tendency to flush or flood the machine whenever the material in the bin leading to the feeder is partially emptied and the material consequently in motion. This has been fully met and overcome by my novel arrangement .of a series of annular rings having frictional contact w th a rotary drum, each ring carrying a plurality of lugs forming compartments when positioned in contact with other similar rings. Each compartment after befilled is completely inclosed while revolving it until it reaches a point where its contents are discharged, thus obtaining an uniform feed operation and effectually preventing flooding of the mill. These compartments are furthermore independent in their rotation with respect to each other so that in the event of any foreign substance working through from the bin or the conveyer means into one of the compartments the operation of the unaffected compartments is continuous.

The novel means adapted to control the flow of the material to the mill is so arranged that the feeding operation is not hindere-d in way and stoppage of the feeder for any adjustment of the control is not required.

Referring now more particularly to the preferred construction in the accompanying drawings, I show my invention applied to a tube mill 6 carrying a scoop 7 which is adapted to revolve within a housing 8. An opening 9 is provided in the housing around which opening is mounted a feeder 10 pro vided with an inlet opening 11 leading to a bin 12 containing pulverized material to be fed to the mill.

As will be seen by referring to Figures 2 and 3 the feeder 10 comprises a framework 13 carrying vertical flanges 14: to which is bolted a flanged chute member 15 forming ,a connection between the feeder and the bin. Mounted in the frame-worl? is a hollow trunnion 16 secured thereto by bolts 17 and provided with a bearing box 1.8 in which is placed a bushing 19 for the reception of .a drive shaft 20. Fitting around the trunnion 16 is a bushing 16" providing a bearing surface for a hub portion 21 of a rotary drum 22, the said hub portion having an inner shoulder 21" hearing against the end of the trunnion. The drum has rotation freely within the frame-work and carries a flange 23 at one end of its periphery.

Fitting circumferentially around the periphery of the drum and having frictional contact therewith are a series of annular rings 2&, each ring, except the first one adj acent the flange 23, being provided on one side with a plurality of lugs 25. When the rings are p a ed on the drum the free edges 26 of the lugs engage the surface 27 of the next ring in such a way as to form a series of compartments 28 for the reception of the material from the bin. These rings when positioned on the drum fit closely together and are held in place by the annular flange 23 and a keeper ring 29. The surfaces of the outer rings are flush with the walls of opening 11, eliminating any possibility of leakage of the material.

The shaft 20 is preferably driven from the mill by any suitable means, so that when the tube mill revolves rotation is imparted to the shaft. The other end of the shaft within the feeder is cored and slotted for the reception of a clutch rod 31 and key 32 having reciprocal movement therein, the key 32 on movement of the rod in one direction engaging wit-h a key-way (not shown) in the interior face 33 of the hub 21. Mounted on the shaft and secured thereto by set screws 34: are collars 35 and 36 hearing against the trunnion 16 and the hub 21 respectively. Resting upon the upper framework and having movement in grooves 37 formed by the vertical flanges 14 and chute member 15 is a plate 38 provided with a. lip 39 adapted to out ofi one or more of the series of compartments as desired, in this way the quantity of material to be fed to the mill is under complete control.

The operation of the apparatus is substantially as follows: The clutch rod and key having been moved outwardly to engage with the key-way in the hub of the drum, rotation is then imparted to the shaft. hen one horizontal row of the compartments is filled by the material from the bin, it moves past the feed opening and its place is taken by the next horizontal row of compartments. The filled compartments are inclosed by the frame-work 13 from the time it is filled until it reaches a point substantially where it discharges into the housing 8, thereby preventing any leakage of the material and obtaining an uniform feeding operation while any material remains in the bin. This will readily be seen by a reference to Figure 3.

lVhen it is desired to vary the flow of the material the cut-off plate is moved over to cut off one or as many as desired of the series of annular compartments from the material in the chute, the lip 39 engaging with the rings. When the feeder is to be stopped the clutch rod is moved inwardly disengaging the drive shaft from the rotary drum.

In the event of any foreign substance working through fro-m the conveyer or from the bin and obstructing one of the compartments, the movement of that annular ring forming such compartment will be arrested, until such time as the foreign substance is removed. Then one ring is checked, the rotation of the remaining rings is continuous and uninterrupted. Other advantages will occur to those familiar with the. art.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use what I claim as new and desire to obtain by Letters Patent is the following 1. In a feeder the combination of a frame provided with a feed passage, a rotary drum mounted for movement within the frame, a drive shaft, connections between the drive shaft and the rotary drum, and a ring having frictional contact with the periphery of the drum and provided with a plurality of lugs forming compartments substantially as described.

2. In a feeder the combination of a framework, a trunnion mounted in the framework, a rotary drum fitting over the trun nion, a shaft through the trunnion, means to connect the shaft to the rotary drum, and an annular ring having frictional contact with the drum and provided with a series of lugs forming compartments and adapted to rot-ate with the rotary drum substantially as described.

3. In a feeder for a tube mill or the like, the combination of an inclosing frame having a feed inlet and a discharge outlet therein, a rotary drum mounted for movement within the frame, driving means, a connection between the driving means and the rotary drum, and a plurality of annular rings each provided with a lug adapted to contact with adjacent rings to form compartments, said compartments being entirely inclosed by the frame at all points bet-ween the feed inlet and the discharge outlet.

4. The combination in an apparatus of the class described of a frame provided with a feed opening and a discharge opening therein, a trunnion mounted in the frame-work, a rotary drum fitting over the trunnion, a drive shaft, a connect-ion between the drive shaft and the drum, and a plurality of rings removably fitting on the drum and provided with lugs adapted to contact with adjacent rings to form compartments, so that on stoppage of one row of compartments under abnormal conditions another row of compartments has uninterrupted rotary movement, substantially as described.

5. The combination in a feeder, of a housing having a feed opening and a discharge opening therein, a rotary drum mounted for movement in the housing, a drive shaft, connections between the shaft and the said drum, a series of movable compartments mounted on the drum and frictionally movable therewith comprising a plurality of annular rings provided with lugs, each ring spaced away from the adjacent ring by the said lugs.

6. In a feed device of the character described, the combination of a feed conduit, a rotary feed member therein, and a shaft for turning said feed member and having frictional engagement therewith, the rotary feed member comprising a plurality of sections placed end to end on the shaft.

7. In a feed device of the character described, the combination of a feed conduit, a rotary feed member therein, and a shaft for turning the feed member, the said feed member comprising a plurality of sections having frictional engagement with the shaftand provided with lateral projecting mem bers whereby the sections when placed end to end form radial compartments in the feeding member.

8. In a feed device of the character described, the combination of a feed conduit, a drum mounted for rotation in said passage, means for rotating the drum, and a plurality of propelling members mounted on the drum and having frictional engagement with the drum.

9. In a feed device of the character described, the combination of a feed conduit, and a rotary feed member mounted therein, consisting of a plurality of substantially similar and independent sections provided with laterally projecting members in frictional contact with an adjacent section, whereby the sections when placed end to end form radial compartments.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of the two subscribed witnesses.

CHARLES LEWVIS CARMAN.

WVitnesses:

W. HERBERT FOWKES, M. H. ERICKSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

